The Tragedy of Coriolanus

BRUTUSWhat's the matter?MESSENGERYou are sent for to the Capitol. 'Tis thoughtThat Marcius shall be consul:I have seen the dumb men throng to see him, andThe blind to hear him speak: matrons flung gloves,Ladies and maids their scarfs and handkerchers,Upon him as he pass'd; the nobles bendedAs to Jove's statue; and the commons madeA shower and thunder with their caps and shouts:I never saw the like.BRUTUSLet's to the Capitol;And carry with us ears and eyes for the time,But hearts for the event.SICINIUSHave with you.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II. Rome. The Capitol

[Enter two OFFICERS, to lay cushions.]

FIRST OFFICERCome, come; they are almost here. How many stand for consulships?SECOND OFFICER. Three, they say; but 'tis thought of every one Coriolanus will carry it.FIRST OFFICER. That's a brave fellow; but he's vengeance proud and loves not the common people.SECOND OFFICER. Faith, there have been many great men that have flattered the people, who ne'er loved them; and there be many that they have loved, they know not wherefore; so that, if they love they know not why, they hate upon no better a ground: therefore, for Coriolanus neither to care whether they love or hate him manifests the true knowledge he has in their disposition; and, out of his noble carelessness, lets them plainly see't.FIRST OFFICER. If he did not care whether he had their love or no, he waved indifferently 'twixt doing them neither good nor harm; but he seeks their hate with greater devotion than they can render it him; and leaves nothing undone that may fully discover him their opposite. Now to seem to affect the malice and displeasure of the people is as bad as that which he dislikes, – to flatter them for their love.SECOND OFFICER. He hath deserved worthily of his country: and his ascent is not by such easy degrees as those who, having been supple and courteous to the people, bonnetted, without any further deed to have them at all, into their estimation and report: but he hath so planted his honours in their eyes, and his actions in their hearts, that for their tongues to be silent, and not confess so much, were a kind of ingrateful injury; to report otherwise were a malice that, giving itself the lie, would pluck reproof and rebuke from every ear that heard it.FIRST OFFICERNo more of him; he is a worthy man.: make way, they are coming.

[A sennet. Enter, with Lictors before them, COMINIUS the Consul,

MENENIUS, CORIOLANUS, Senators, SICINIUS and BRUTUS. The Senatorstake their places; the Tribunes take theirs also by themselves.]MENENIUSHaving determined of the Volsces, andTo send for Titus Lartius, it remains,As the main point of this our after-meeting,To gratify his noble service thatHath thus stood for his country: therefore please you,Most reverend and grave elders, to desireThe present consul, and last generalIn our well-found successes, to reportA little of that worthy work perform'dBy Caius Marcius Coriolanus; whomWe met here both to thank and to rememberWith honours like himself.FIRST SENATORSpeak, good Cominius:Leave nothing out for length, and make us thinkRather our state's defective for requitalThan we to stretch it out. – Masters o' the people,We do request your kindest ears; and, after,Your loving motion toward the common body,To yield what passes here.SICINIUSWe are conventedUpon a pleasing treaty; and have heartsInclinable to honour and advanceThe theme of our assembly.BRUTUSWhich the ratherWe shall be bless'd to do, if he rememberA kinder value of the people thanHe hath hereto priz'd them at.MENENIUSThat's off, that's off;I would you rather had been silent. Please youTo hear Cominius speak?BRUTUSMost willingly.But yet my caution was more pertinentThan the rebuke you give it.MENENIUSHe loves your people;But tie him not to be their bedfellow. —Worthy Cominius, speak.

[CORIOLANUS rises, and offers to go away.]

Nay, keep your place.FIRST SENATORSit, Coriolanus; never shame to hearWhat you have nobly done.CORIOLANUSYour Honours' pardon:I had rather have my wounds to heal againThan hear say how I got them.BRUTUSSir, I hopeMy words disbench'd you not.CORIOLANUSNo, sir; yet oft,When blows have made me stay, I fled from words.You sooth'd not, therefore hurt not: but your people,I love them as they weigh.MENENIUSPray now, sit down.CORIOLANUSI had rather have one scratch my head i' the sunWhen the alarum were struck, than idly sitTo hear my nothings monster'd.

[Exit.]

MENENIUSMasters o' the people,Your multiplying spawn how can he flatter, —That's thousand to one good one, – when you now seeHe had rather venture all his limbs for honourThan one on's ears to hear it? – Proceed, Cominius.COMINIUSI shall lack voice: the deeds of CoriolanusShould not be utter'd feebly. – It is heldThat valour is the chiefest virtue, andMost dignifies the haver: if it be,The man I speak of cannot in the worldBe singly counterpois'd. At sixteen years,When Tarquin made a head for Rome, he foughtBeyond the mark of others; our then dictator,Whom with all praise I point at, saw him fight,When with his Amazonian chin he droveThe bristled lips before him: he bestridAn o'erpress'd Roman and i' the consul's viewSlew three opposers: Tarquin's self he met,And struck him on his knee: in that day's feats,When he might act the woman in the scene,He proved best man i' the field, and for his meedWas brow-bound with the oak. His pupil ageMan-enter'd thus, he waxed like a sea;And in the brunt of seventeen battles sinceHe lurch'd all swords of the garland. For this last,Before and in Corioli, let me say,I cannot speak him home: he stopp'd the fliers;And by his rare example made the cowardTurn terror into sport: as weeds beforeA vessel under sail, so men obey'd,And fell below his stem: his sword, – death's stamp, —Where it did mark, it took; from face to footHe was a thing of blood, whose every motionWas timed with dying cries: alone he enter'dThe mortal gate of the city, which he paintedWith shunless destiny; aidless came off,And with a sudden re-enforcement struckCorioli like a planet. Now all's his:When, by and by, the din of war 'gan pierceHis ready sense; then straight his doubled spiritRe-quick'ned what in flesh was fatigate,And to the battle came he; where he didRun reeking o'er the lives of men, as if'Twere a perpetual spoil: and till we call'dBoth field and city ours he never stoodTo ease his breast with panting.MENENIUSWorthy man!FIRST SENATORHe cannot but with measure fit the honoursWhich we devise him.COMINIUSOur spoils he kick'd at;And looked upon things precious as they wereThe common muck of the world: he covets lessThan misery itself would give; rewardsHis deeds with doing them; and is contentTo spend the time to end it.MENENIUSHe's right noble:Let him be call'd for.FIRST SENATORCall Coriolanus.OFFICERHe doth appear.

[Re-enter CORIOLANUS.]

MENENIUSThe Senate, Coriolanus, are well pleas'dTo make thee consul.CORIOLANUSI do owe them stillMy life and services.MENENIUSIt then remainsThat you do speak to the people.CORIOLANUSI do beseech youLet me o'erleap that custom; for I cannotPut on the gown, stand naked, and entreat them,For my wounds' sake to give their suffrage: please youThat I may pass this doing.SICINIUSSir, the peopleMust have their voices; neither will they bateOne jot of ceremony.MENENIUSPut them not to't: —Pray you, go fit you to the custom; andTake to you, as your predecessors have,Your honour with your form.CORIOLANUSIt is a partThat I shall blush in acting, and might wellBe taken from the people.BRUTUSMark you that?CORIOLANUSTo brag unto them, – thus I did, and thus; —Show them the unaching scars which I should hide,As if I had receiv'd them for the hireOf their breath only!MENENIUSDo not stand upon't. —We recommend to you, tribunes of the people,Our purpose to them; – and to our noble consulWish we all joy and honour.SENATORSTo Coriolanus come all joy and honour!

[Flourish. Exeunt all but SICINIUS and BRUTUS.]

BRUTUSYou see how he intends to use the people.SICINIUSMay they perceive's intent! He will require themAs if he did contemn what he requestedShould be in them to give.BRUTUSCome, we'll inform themOf our proceedings here: on the market-placeI know they do attend us.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE III. Rome. The Forum

[Enter several citizens.]

FIRST CITIZENOnce, if he do require our voices, we ought not to deny him.SECOND CITIZENWe may, sir, if we will.THIRD CITIZEN. We have power in ourselves to do it, but it is a power that we have no power to do: for if he show us his wounds and tell us his deeds, we are to put our tongues into those wounds and speak for them; so, if he tell us his noble deeds, we must also tell him our noble acceptance of them. Ingratitude is monstrous: and for the multitude to be ingrateful were to make a monster of the multitude; of the which we being members, should bring ourselves to be monstrous members.FIRST CITIZEN. And to make us no better thought of, a little help will serve; for once we stood up about the corn, he himself stuck not to call us the many-headed multitude.THIRD CITIZEN. We have been called so of many; not that our heads are some brown, some black, some auburn, some bald, but that our wits are so diversely coloured; and truly I think if all our wits were to issue out of one skull, they would fly east, west, north, south; and their consent of one direct way should be at once to all the points o' the compass.SECOND CITIZENThink you so? Which way do you judge my wit would fly?THIRD CITIZEN. Nay, your wit will not so soon out as another man's will, – 'tis strongly wedged up in a block-head; but if it were at liberty 'twould, sure, southward.SECOND CITIZENWhy that way?THIRD CITIZEN. To lose itself in a fog; where being three parts melted away with rotten dews, the fourth would return for conscience' sake, to help to get thee a wife.SECOND CITIZENYou are never without your tricks: – you may, you may.THIRD CITIZEN. Are you all resolved to give your voices? But that's no matter, the greater part carries it. I say, if he would incline to the people, there was never a worthier man. Here he comes, and in the gown of humility. Mark his behaviour. We are not to stay all together, but to come by him where he stands, by ones, by twos, and by threes. He's to make his requests by particulars, wherein every one of us has a single honour, in giving him our own voices with our own tongues; therefore follow me, and I'll direct you how you shall go by him.ALLContent, content.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS.]

MENENIUSO sir, you are not right; have you not knownThe worthiest men have done't!CORIOLANUSWhat must I say? —'I pray, sir' – Plague upon't! I cannot bringMy tongue to such a pace. – 'Look, sir, – my wounds; —I got them in my country's service, whenSome certain of your brethren roar'd, and ranFrom the noise of our own drums.'MENENIUSO me, the gods!You must not speak of that: you must desire themTo think upon you.CORIOLANUSThink upon me! Hang 'em!I would they would forget me, like the virtuesWhich our divines lose by 'em.MENENIUSYou'll mar all:I'll leave you. Pray you speak to 'em, I pray you,In wholesome manner.CORIOLANUSBid them wash their facesAnd keep their teeth clean.

[Exit MENENIUS.]

So, here comes a brace:

[Re-enter two citizens.]

You know the cause, sirs, of my standing here.FIRST CITIZENWe do, sir; tell us what hath brought you to't.CORIOLANUSMine own desert.SECOND CITIZENYour own desert?CORIOLANUSAy, not mine own desire.FIRST CITIZENHow! not your own desire!CORIOLANUS. No, sir, 'twas never my desire yet to trouble the poor with begging.FIRST CITIZENYou must think, if we give you anything, we hope to gain by you.CORIOLANUSWell then, I pray, your price o' the consulship?FIRST CITIZENThe price is to ask it kindly.CORIOLANUS. Kindly! sir, I pray, let me ha't: I have wounds to show you, which shall be yours in private. – Your good voice, sir; what say you?SECOND CITIZENYou shall ha' it, worthy sir.CORIOLANUS. A match, sir. – There's in all two worthy voices begg'd. – I have your alms: adieu.FIRST CITIZENBut this is something odd.SECOND CITIZENAn 'twere to give again, – but 'tis no matter.

[Exeunt two citizens.]

[Re-enter other two citizens.]

CORIOLANUS. Pray you now, if it may stand with the tune of your voices that I may be consul, I have here the customary gown.THIRD CITIZEN. You have deserved nobly of your country, and you have not deserved nobly.CORIOLANUSYour enigma?THIRD CITIZEN. You have been a scourge to her enemies; you have been a rod to her friends: you have not indeed loved the common people.CORIOLANUS. You should account me the more virtuous, that I have not been common in my love. I will, sir, flatter my sworn brother, the people, to earn a dearer estimation of them; 'tis a condition they account gentle: and since the wisdom of their choice is rather to have my hat than my heart, I will practise the insinuating nod and be off to them most counterfeitly: that is, sir, I will counterfeit the bewitchment of some popular man and give it bountifully to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you, I may be consul.FOURTH CITIZEN. We hope to find you our friend; and therefore give you our voices heartily.THIRD CITIZENYou have received many wounds for your country.CORIOLANUS. I will not seal your knowledge with showing them. I will make much of your voices, and so trouble you no further.BOTH CITIZENSThe gods give you joy, sir, heartily!

[Exeunt citizens.]

CORIOLANUSMost sweet voices! —Better it is to die, better to starve,Than crave the hire which first we do deserve.Why in this wolvish toge should I stand here,To beg of Hob and Dick that do appear,Their needless vouches? custom calls me to't: —What custom wills, in all things should we do't,The dust on antique time would lie unswept,And mountainous error be too highly heap'dFor truth to o'erpeer. Rather than fool it so,Let the high office and the honour goTo one that would do thus. – I am half through;The one part suffer'd, the other will I do.Here come more voices.

[Re-enter other three citizens.]

Your voices: for your voices I have fought;Watch'd for your voices; for your voices bearOf wounds two dozen odd; battles thrice sixI have seen and heard of; for your voices haveDone many things, some less, some more: your voices:Indeed, I would be consul.FIFTH CITIZENHe has done nobly, and cannot go without any honest man's voice.SIXTH CITIZEN. Therefore let him be consul: the gods give him joy, and make him good friend to the people!ALL THREE CITIZENSAmen, amen. – God save thee, noble consul!

[Exeunt.]

CORIOLANUSWorthy voices!

[Re-enter MENENIUS, with BRUTUS and SICINIUS.]

MENENIUSYou have stood your limitation; and the tribunesEndue you with the people's voice: – remainsThat, in the official marks invested, youAnon do meet the senate.CORIOLANUSIs this done?SICINIUSThe custom of request you have discharg'd:The people do admit you; and are summon'dTo meet anon, upon your approbation.CORIOLANUSWhere? at the senate-house?SICINIUSThere, Coriolanus.CORIOLANUSMay I change these garments?SICINIUSYou may, sir.CORIOLANUSThat I'll straight do; and, knowing myself again,Repair to the senate-house.MENENIUSI'll keep you company. – Will you along?BRUTUSWe stay here for the people.SICINIUSFare you well.

[Exeunt CORIOLANUS and MENENIUS.]

He has it now; and by his looks methinks'Tis warm at his heart.BRUTUSWith a proud heart he wore his humble weeds.Will you dismiss the people?

[Re-enter citizens.]

SICINIUSHow now, my masters! have you chose this man?FIRST CITIZENHe has our voices, sir.BRUTUSWe pray the gods he may deserve your loves.SECOND CITIZENAmen, sir: – to my poor unworthy notice,He mocked us when he begg'd our voices.THIRD CITIZENCertainly;He flouted us downright.FIRST CITIZENNo, 'tis his kind of speech, – he did not mock us.SECOND CITIZENNot one amongst us, save yourself, but saysHe us'd us scornfully: he should have show'd usHis marks of merit, wounds received for's country.SICINIUSWhy, so he did, I am sure.CITIZENSNo, no; no man saw 'em.THIRD CITIZENHe said he had wounds, which he could show in private;And with his hat, thus waving it in scorn,'I would be consul,' says he; 'aged customBut by your voices, will not so permit me;Your voices therefore:' when we granted that,Here was, 'I thank you for your voices, – thank you, —Your most sweet voices: – now you have left your voicesI have no further with you:' – was not this mockery?SICINIUSWhy either were you ignorant to see't?Or, seeing it, of such childish friendlinessTo yield your voices?BRUTUSCould you not have told him,As you were lesson'd, – when he had no power,But was a petty servant to the state,He was your enemy; ever spake againstYour liberties, and the charters that you bearI' the body of the weal: and now, arrivingA place of potency and sway o' the state,If he should still malignantly remainFast foe to the plebeii, your voices mightBe curses to yourselves? You should have said,That as his worthy deeds did claim no lessThan what he stood for, so his gracious natureWould think upon you for your voices, andTranslate his malice towards you into love,Standing your friendly lord.SICINIUSThus to have said,As you were fore-advis'd, had touch'd his spiritAnd tried his inclination; from him pluck'dEither his gracious promise, which you might,As cause had call'd you up, have held him to;Or else it would have gall'd his surly nature,Which easily endures not articleTying him to aught; so, putting him to rage,You should have ta'en the advantage of his cholerAnd pass'd him unelected.BRUTUSDid you perceiveHe did solicit you in free contemptWhen he did need your loves; and do you thinkThat his contempt shall not be bruising to youWhen he hath power to crush? Why, had your bodiesNo heart among you? Or had you tongues to cryAgainst the rectorship of judgment?SICINIUSHave youEre now denied the asker, and now again,Of him that did not ask but mock, bestowYour su'd-for tongues?THIRD CITIZENHe's not confirm'd: we may deny him yet.SECOND CITIZENAnd will deny him:I'll have five hundred voices of that sound.FIRST CITIZENI twice five hundred, and their friends to piece 'em.BRUTUSGet you hence instantly; and tell those friendsThey have chose a consul that will from them takeTheir liberties, make them of no more voiceThan dogs, that are as often beat for barkingAs therefore kept to do so.SICINIUSLet them assemble;And, on a safer judgment, all revokeYour ignorant election: enforce his prideAnd his old hate unto you: besides, forget notWith what contempt he wore the humble weed;How in his suit he scorn'd you: but your loves,Thinking upon his services, took from youTh' apprehension of his present portance,Which, most gibingly, ungravely, he did fashionAfter the inveterate hate he bears you.BRUTUSLayA fault on us, your tribunes; that we labour'd, —No impediment between, – but that you mustCast your election on him.SICINIUSSay you chose himMore after our commandment than as guidedBy your own true affections; and that your minds,Pre-occupied with what you rather must doThan what you should, made you against the grainTo voice him consul. Lay the fault on us.BRUTUSAy, spare us not. Say we read lectures to you,How youngly he began to serve his country,How long continued: and what stock he springs of —The noble house o' the Marcians; from whence cameThat Ancus Marcius, Numa's daughter's son,Who, after great Hostilius, here was king;Of the same house Publius and Quintus were,That our best water brought by conduits hither;And Censorinus, darling of the people,And nobly nam'd so, twice being censor,Was his great ancestor.SICINIUSOne thus descended,That hath beside well in his person wroughtTo be set high in place, we did commendTo your remembrances: but you have found,Scaling his present bearing with his past,That he's your fixed enemy, and revokeYour sudden approbation.BRUTUSSay you ne'er had done't, —Harp on that still, – but by our putting on:And presently when you have drawn your number,Repair to the Capitol.CITIZENSWe will so; almost allRepent in their election.

[Exeunt.]

BRUTUSLet them go on;This mutiny were better put in hazardThan stay, past doubt, for greater:If, as his nature is, he fall in rageWith their refusal, both observe and answerThe vantage of his anger.SICINIUSTo the Capitol,Come: we will be there before the stream o' the people;And this shall seem, as partly 'tis, their own,Which we have goaded onward.

[Exeunt.]

ACT III

SCENE I. Rome. A street

[Cornets. Enter CORIOLANUS, MENENIUS, COMINIUS, TITUS LARTIUS,

Senators, and Patricians.]CORIOLANUSTullus Aufidius, then, had made new head?LARTIUSHe had, my lord; and that it was which caus'dOur swifter composition.CORIOLANUSSo then the Volsces stand but as at first;Ready, when time shall prompt them, to make roadUpon's again.COMINIUSThey are worn, lord consul, soThat we shall hardly in our ages seeTheir banners wave again.CORIOLANUSSaw you Aufidius?LARTIUSOn safeguard he came to me; and did curseAgainst the Volsces, for they had so vilelyYielded the town; he is retir'd to Antium.CORIOLANUSSpoke he of me?LARTIUSHe did, my lord.CORIOLANUSHow? What?LARTIUSHow often he had met you, sword to sword;That of all things upon the earth he hatedYour person most; that he would pawn his fortunesTo hopeless restitution, so he mightBe call'd your vanquisher.CORIOLANUSAt Antium lives he?LARTIUSAt Antium.CORIOLANUSI wish I had a cause to seek him there,To oppose his hatred fully. – Welcome home. [To Laertes.]

[Enter SICINIUS and BRUTUS.]

Behold! these are the tribunes of the people;The tongues o' the common mouth. I do despise them,For they do prank them in authority,Against all noble sufferance.SICINIUSPass no further.CORIOLANUSHa! what is that?BRUTUSIt will be dangerous to go on: no further.CORIOLANUSWhat makes this change?MENENIUSThe matter?COMINIUSHath he not pass'd the noble and the commons?BRUTUSCominius, no.CORIOLANUSHave I had children's voices?FIRST SENATORTribunes, give way; he shall to the market-place.BRUTUSThe people are incens'd against him.SICINIUSStop,Or all will fall in broil.CORIOLANUSAre these your herd? —Must these have voices, that can yield them now,And straight disclaim their tongues? – What are your offices?You being their mouths, why rule you not their teeth?Have you not set them on?MENENIUSBe calm, be calm.CORIOLANUSIt is a purpos'd thing, and grows by plot,To curb the will of the nobility:Suffer't, and live with such as cannot rule,Nor ever will be rul'd.BRUTUSCall't not a plot:The people cry you mock'd them; and of late,When corn was given them gratis, you repin'd;Scandal'd the suppliants for the people, – call'd themTime-pleasers, flatterers, foes to nobleness.CORIOLANUSWhy, this was known before.BRUTUSNot to them all.CORIOLANUSHave you inform'd them sithence?BRUTUSHow! I inform them!COMINIUSYou are like to do such business.BRUTUSNot unlike,Each way, to better yours.CORIOLANUSWhy, then, should I be consul? By yond clouds,Let me deserve so ill as you, and make meYour fellow tribune.SICINIUSYou show too much of thatFor which the people stir: if you will passTo where you are bound, you must inquire your way,Which you are out of, with a gentler spirit;Or never be so noble as a consul,Nor yoke with him for tribune.MENENIUSLet's be calm.COMINIUSThe people are abus'd; set on. This palt'ringBecomes not Rome; nor has CoriolanusDeserv'd this so dishonour'd rub, laid falselyI' the plain way of his merit.CORIOLANUSTell me of corn!This was my speech, and I will speak't again, —MENENIUSNot now, not now.FIRST SENATORNot in this heat, sir, now.CORIOLANUSNow, as I live, I will. – My nobler friends,I crave their pardons:For the mutable, rank-scented many, let themRegard me as I do not flatter, andTherein behold themselves: I say again,In soothing them we nourish 'gainst our senateThe cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition,Which we ourselves have plough'd for, sow'd, and scatter'd,By mingling them with us, the honour'd number,Who lack not virtue, no, nor power, but thatWhich they have given to beggars.MENENIUSWell, no more.FIRST SENATORNo more words, we beseech you.CORIOLANUSHow! no more!As for my country I have shed my blood,Not fearing outward force, so shall my lungsCoin words till their decay against those measlesWhich we disdain should tetter us, yet soughtThe very way to catch them.BRUTUSYou speak o' the peopleAs if you were a god, to punish, notA man of their infirmity.SICINIUS'Twere wellWe let the people know't.MENENIUSWhat, what? his choler?CORIOLANUSCholer!Were I as patient as the midnight sleep,By Jove, 'twould be my mind!SICINIUSIt is a mindThat shall remain a poison where it is,Not poison any further.CORIOLANUSShall remain! —Hear you this Triton of the minnows? mark youHis absolute 'shall'?COMINIUS'Twas from the canon.CORIOLANUS'Shall'!O good, but most unwise patricians! why,You grave but reckless senators, have you thusGiven Hydra leave to choose an officer,That with his peremptory 'shall,' being butThe horn and noise o' the monster, wants not spiritTo say he'll turn your current in a ditch,And make your channel his? If he have power,Then vail your ignorance: if none, awakeYour dangerous lenity. If you are learn'd,Be not as common fools; if you are not,Let them have cushions by you. You are plebeians,If they be senators: and they are no lessWhen, both your voices blended, the great'st tasteMost palates theirs. They choose their magistrate;And such a one as he, who puts his 'shall,'His popular 'shall,' against a graver benchThan ever frown'd in Greece. By Jove himself,It makes the consuls base: and my soul achesTo know, when two authorities are up,Neither supreme, how soon confusionMay enter 'twixt the gap of both and takeThe one by the other.COMINIUSWell, on to the market-place.CORIOLANUSWhoever gave that counsel, to give forthThe corn o' the storehouse gratis, as 'twas us'dSometime in Greece, —MENENIUSWell, well, no more of that.CORIOLANUSThough there the people had more absolute power, —I say they nourish'd disobedience, fedThe ruin of the state.BRUTUSWhy shall the people giveOne that speaks thus their voice?CORIOLANUSI'll give my reasons,More worthier than their voices. They know the cornWas not our recompense, resting well assur'dThey ne'er did service for't; being press'd to the war,Even when the navel of the state was touch'd,They would not thread the gates, – this kind of serviceDid not deserve corn gratis: being i' the war,Their mutinies and revolts, wherein they show'dMost valour, spoke not for them. The accusationWhich they have often made against the senate,All cause unborn, could never be the motiveOf our so frank donation. Well, what then?How shall this bisson multitude digestThe senate's courtesy? Let deeds expressWhat's like to be their words: – 'We did request it;We are the greater poll, and in true fearThey gave us our demands:' – Thus we debaseThe nature of our seats, and make the rabbleCall our cares fears; which will in timeBreak ope the locks o' the senate and bring inThe crows to peck the eagles. —MENENIUSCome, enough.BRUTUSEnough, with over-measure.CORIOLANUSNo, take more:What may be sworn by, both divine and human,Seal what I end withal! – This double worship, —Where one part does disdain with cause, the otherInsult without all reason; where gentry, title, wisdom,Cannot conclude but by the yea and noOf general ignorance – it must omitReal necessities, and give way the whileTo unstable slightness: purpose so barr'd, it follows,Nothing is done to purpose. Therefore, beseech you, —You that will be less fearful than discreet;That love the fundamental part of stateMore than you doubt the change on't; that preferA noble life before a long, and wishTo jump a body with a dangerous physicThat's sure of death without it, – at once pluck outThe multitudinous tongue; let them not lickThe sweet which is their poison: your dishonourMangles true judgment, and bereaves the stateOf that integrity which should become't;Not having the power to do the good it would,For the ill which doth control't.BRUTUSHas said enough.SICINIUSHas spoken like a traitor, and shall answerAs traitors do.CORIOLANUSThou wretch, despite o'erwhelm thee! —What should the people do with these bald tribunes?On whom depending, their obedience failsTo the greater bench: in a rebellion,When what's not meet, but what must be, was law,Then were they chosen; in a better hourLet what is meet be said it must be meet,And throw their power i' the dust.BRUTUSManifest treason!SICINIUSThis a consul? no.BRUTUSThe aediles, ho! – Let him be apprehended.SICINIUSGo call the people [Exit BRUTUS.]; in whose name myselfAttach thee as a traitorous innovator,A foe to the public weal. Obey, I charge thee,And follow to thine answer.CORIOLANUSHence, old goat!SENATORS and PATRICIANS.We'll surety him.COMINIUSAged sir, hands off.CORIOLANUSHence, rotten thing! or I shall shake thy bonesOut of thy garments.SICINIUSHelp, ye citizens!

[Re-enter Brutus, with the AEDILES and a rabble of Citizens.]